Angler fined for poaching walleye in Scugog River

Grimsby man fined $4,800, on probation for two years

SCUGOG -- A Grimsby man has been fined nearly $5,000 and prohibited from fishing for at least one year after he was convicted of poaching walleye in a Scugog River fish sanctuary.

Colton T. Norris pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully fishing in a fish sanctuary during a Nov. 2 appearance before Justice of the Peace James E. Oates in Lindsay.

The Ontario Court of Justice heard that Mr. Norris unlawfully fished in a sanctuary area on the Scugog River over a period of three nights, occurring sometime between March 24 and March 28, 2012.

During an investigation, a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer discovered Mr. Norris had caught and kept 12 walleye during this time.

The Grimsby man was fined $4,800 for the offense and put on probation for two years which prohibits him from fishing, or possessing a fishing licence, for the first year. He is permitted to fish in the second year of his probation if he has a valid fishing licence and is accompanied by his father and/or grandfather.

Fish sanctuaries are designated areas where no fishing of any kind is permitted. They can be seasonal in duration or extend for the entire year, but are usually established at times when fish are especially vulnerable to angling.